PSG sporting director Leonardo resigns

10 July 2013 11:16

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo resigned on Wednesday, the club announced in a statement.

"The club management regrets this decision, but respects it," the statement said, adding that the resignation would take effect from September 2.

"The club would like to take the opportunity to thank him for the remarkable work he put in to build in Paris a team that is now in the forefront of European football and wishes him every success in his brilliant career."

Leonardo last week was banned for the entire new season for pushing a referee after PSG's 1-1 draw against Valenciennes on May 5.

The Brazilian was originally banned for nine months, but after he appealed against the decision, French football authorities increased the sanction to 13 months.

The former AC Milan and Inter Milan coach was named as sporting director at the Paris club in July 2011 after they were taken over by wealthy investors from the Gulf state of Qatar.

He attracted top names such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and David Beckham to the Parc des Princes, but after Carlo Ancelotti stood down as manager to join Real Madrid, he was unable to attract a big-name coach to replace him.

Eventually PSG settled for former France national team coach Laurent Blanc to be in charge for the 2013/14 season.